An Honour to Serve: Mayor Wayne Johnston Shares His Decision

A statement from Mayor Wayne Johnston:

After much reflection, I have made the decision not to recontest the upcoming Tasmanian Local Government elections in October 2026.

Having first been elected as Mayor of the Meander Valley in 2018, it has been a privilege to serve our community over the past eight years. I am very grateful to the residents of the Meander Valley for the faith they placed in me at that time and for the trust and support received throughout my journey in local government.

Serving as Mayor has been extremely rewarding. I have been fortunate to work alongside dedicated councillors and Council employees who care about our community and its future. I thank my fellow councillors for their collaboration and shared commitment to constructive leadership.

During my time as Mayor, I have also had the opportunity to represent the Meander Valley and the broader local government sector through my involvement on the board of the Northern Tasmanian Development Corporation (NTDC), the General Management Committee of the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT), and as Chief Owner’s Representative for TasWater. These roles have allowed me to advocate for strong local government and effective statewide partnerships.

I am thankful for the assistance of fellow Tasmanian councillors and local government colleagues across the state, whose shared experiences and commitment to public service have meant a lot to me. I would like to thank my wife Lisa and my family for their valued ongoing support during my time as Mayor.

While I will not be seeking another term, I remain fully committed to my role as Mayor and will continue to work hard for the Meander Valley community until the local government elections in October 2026. As I look toward completing my term, I will continue to serve with the same dedication and integrity that has guided me.

It has been an honour to serve this community, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to do so.